Heliotropium plant named ‘Heliosil’

ABSTRACT

A distinct  Heliotropium  plant particularly distinguished by its light lavender color, vigor, good branching, and floriferous characteristics. The new cultivar can be used in 10-12 cm pots without use of growth regulators.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Heliotropium arborescens.

Varietal denomination: ‘Heliosil’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new distinct cultivar of Heliotropium, botanically known as Heliotropium arborescens.

The new cultivar resulted from open-pollination of a proprietary Heliotropium arborescens seedling identified as ‘A260-1’ not patented. ‘A260-1’ has longer flower stems, a less branching character, and smaller flowers than the new cultivar. Seeds of ‘A260-1’ were harvested in 2001 and the new variety ‘Heliosil’ was selected in 2002 as one of the plants of this population. Breeder's code of the new plant is ‘D3235-1.’

This new plant is an annual. The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The new cultivar ‘Heliosil’ is a compact variety that flowers throughout the Summer. ‘Heliosil’ was asexually reproduced by cuttings for 4 years now and trialled under different conditions in Europe. It has retained its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations and is firmly fixed. The new variety reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Heliotropium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Heliotropium has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic. characteristics of ‘Heliosil’ and distinguish the new Heliotropium as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Good branching     -   2. Light lavender color     -   3. Vigorous plant habit     -   4. Freely flowering     -   5. Compact plant habit, even without the use of growth         regulators

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Heliotropium plant. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 30 week old plants, grown in the open field in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands with day temperatures ranging from 16 and 30° Celsius, and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 16° Celsius.

Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘HELIOSIL’ AND TWO SIMILAR VARIETIES ‘Atlanta’ (U.S. Plant Patent Marine GWO No. 11,326) (Not patented) ‘Heliosil’ Plant height 25 cm 60 cm 35-45 cm Plant width 40-45 cm 45 cm 60 cm Branching Freely branching Poor branching Freely branching Foliage color RHS 145A RHS 138A RHS 145A, old leaves RHS 146A Inflorescence 9-13 cm 22 cm 10-14 cm width Flower color Dark blue Dark blue Light lavender Flower width 8 mm 7 mm 8.5 mm

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Heliotropium arborescens. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary seedling of Heliotropium             arborescens ‘A260-1,’ not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown variety or seedling of Heliotropium             arborescens. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Time to initiate roots.—9-12 days at air temperature of 21°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—14-18 days at air temperature of 17°             C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant.—Height: 35-45 cm. Width: 60 cm.         -   Behavior of plant outside under hot and cold             conditions.—Good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching without pinching.         -   Number of branches per plant.—1-3 branches at base of             plant+approximately 13 lateral branches.         -   Crop time from rooting to finished plant.—8 weeks. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—4.5 mm, up to 15 mm.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Length of.—Plant stem: 34-45 cm when fully developed.             Lateral branch: 35-45 cm when fully developed. Internode: 11             mm under high light conditions and 22 mm under low light             conditions.         -   Pubescence.—Densely, short hairs.         -   Color.—Young stem: RHS 147B. Older stem: With anthocyanin             pigmentation; RHS N199B matches best although the actual             color is slightly lighter. -   The foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Number of leaves.—2-25.         -   Shape of leaf.—Elliptic.         -   Fragrance.—Light scent of hay.         -   Leaf.—Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.         -   Texture.—Densely covered on lower and upper side with soft,             short hairs.         -   Leaf.—Length: 6-11 cm. Width: 2-4 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Young leaf RHS 145A, old leaf RHS 146A.             Lower side: Young leaf RHS 147C, old leaf RHS 148B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 12 mm. Color: In young and old leaf: RHS             N144D. Diameter: 2 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             short, soft hairs.         -   Venation.—Shape: Pinnate. Color: Upper and lower surface:             RHS N144D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering season.—Continuous and free flowering throughout             spring, summer and fall.         -   Type.—Terminal compound cymes.         -   Height.—3-4 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 cm when first flowers open 10-14 cm when             flowering is finished.         -   Number of open flowers per inflorescence.—50-75.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: At an angle of 45° to             the stem. Length: 1-4 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color: RHS 197A.         -   Fragrance.—Strong.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on plant.—4 weeks. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Funnel shaped.         -   Length.—6 mm.         -   Width (of corolla).—8.5 mm.         -   Number of petals.—5, fused at base, forming tube.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth,             occasionally very short hairs, more hairs on veins.         -   Color.—Upper side: young flower: RHS N87D, old flower: RHS             85D, base RHS 150D. Lower side: young flower: RHS 85D, old             flower: RHS 85D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: 4 mm. Diameter at base: 1 mm. Diameter             at tube opening: 1 mm. Texture outer surface: Some             pubescence. Texture inner surface: Smooth. Color of outer             surface: RHS 86A. Color of inner surface: RHS N199A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5, fused at base. Shape: Deltoid. Length:             3 mm. Width: Average 0.5 mm. Apex: Acute to acuminate.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper and lower surface densely             pubescent with long soft hairs. Color: RHS 147A.         -   Bud.—Shape: Tubular. Length: 4 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color:             RHS 85C. -   Androecium:     -   -   Anther.—Color: RHS N199D. Length: 1.5 mm. Shape: Ligulate.         -   Stamen.—Number: 5, fused to inside of tube. Length: 0.3 mm.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155A.         -   Amount of pollen.—Abundant. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—Number: One. Length: 2.5 mm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.4 mm. Color: RHS 154C.         -   Ovary.—Number: One per pistil. Size: 0.4 mm diameter, 1.1 mm             long. Color: RHS 143C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Capitate. Color: RHS 143C, top RHS 154B. -   Seed:     -   -   Production.—Yes.         -   Size.—Length: 1-1.5 mm. Diameter: 1 mm.         -   Color.—RHS 200A.         -   Shape.—Ovoid. -   Disease resistance and tolerance for weather conditions: Good     tolerance to heat. No specific susceptibility for pests or diseases     has been observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Heliotropium plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 